And the napkin that was about his head
The word (soudarion) , rendered "napkin", is thought to be originally Latin, and signifies an handkerchief, with which the sweat is wiped off the face, and so it is used in ( Acts 19:12 ) but Nonnus says it is a common word with the Syrians, and the word (ardwo) is used in the Syriac version; and which he renders, (kefalhv zwsthra) , "the girdle, or binding of the head", for with this the head and face of the dead person were bound; see ( John 11:44 ) . Now Peter, by going into the sepulchre, and looking about him, and examining things more strictly and narrowly, observed that which neither he nor John had taken notice of, when only stooping they looked in: and that is, that this head binder, or napkin, was
not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by
itself:
and was plainly the effect of thought, care, and composure; and clearly showed, that the body was not taken away in a hurry, or by thieves, since everything lay in such order and decency; and which was done, either by our Lord himself, or by the angels.